Highlights of journey
Starting my career in Silicon Valley and having the privilege of working with several start up organizations allowed me to grasp the ability to be a solution focused person and move through pivots with grace. I highly value the relationships with executives and believe it’s paramount to be proactive in business. Paul Mountford, CEO at Protegrity believes people are most important. We meet on a weekly basis to discuss priorities, roadblocks and internal insights that have been identified. When it comes to managing my teams, I create a culture of collaboration with the mindset of productivity vs busyness. Having run my own company, I believe this mentality is one of the key factors of my success. Having a high EQ to know what’s important to whom is critical in my role. Coaching my executives and teams to get ahead of competition has been an integral part of my success. Looking back, I remember setting up specific interview processes when the competition sent in spies and speeding up the offer process to win top talent.
Key Achievements
I’ve had the pleasure of being the first Talent professional in companies with the responsibility to shape the culture, set the strategy, partner with the executives, and build high caliber teams. I’ve accomplished a successful track record in start-up and scale ups with successful exits whether it be IPO or acquisition. Building a team from four to two hundred and fifty people or seventy-five to six hundred and fifty has been a thrill. The impactful decisions on key hires, company culture, strategy, process and thinking outside the box in competitive situations has always been part of my DNA. The build of a company fuels my fire.
Contributions
I’ve had the opportunity to build some amazing teams and work with some great people. The companies that I’ve chosen to work for and with have a product that improves someone’s life. One of elements that drew me to Protegrity was the need for all of us to have secure data.
Overcome challenges
There will always be challenges and change in every aspect of our lives. As a self-starter I’m extremely goal oriented. I also believe there is not a magic wand, and you have to master the basics. Planning the work and working the plan are key. I highly value a safe and authentic environment and constantly work to achieve that with my direct reports and within the companies I work with.
"I create a culture of collaboration with the mindset of productivity versus busyness."
Impacted others
I’ve spent my career impacting peoples lives and this is something I care deeply about. It’s one of the reasons I chose to work at Protegrity. Keeping our customers data secure while allowing them the ability to focus on their business whilst keeping their customers safe is a win-win for everyone.
Role Models who shaped your path
Richard Branson has always been a role model. Having the ability to see the world through a dyslexic lens and create powerful caring companies both for employees and customers is someone I admire. There are other key individuals who have helped shape my path and I am privileged to remain close to them in my network today.
Building your own company
Being an entrepreneur is not for the weak hearted. You must have the ability to wear every hat. The commitment and dedication required can be overwhelming at times. It’s a journey so you should surround yourself with a positive, experienced, honest network who you respect and can lean on when needed. My dedication, willingness to move through fear, and respect for my network were key fundamentals in building my company.
Innovative technology using
Technology plays an important role in all the companies I have work with, but you can’t get lost in the shinny objects. Reviewing products that improve your efficiency while keeping the human value realistic for my talent advisors provide is critical. Keeping a keen eye on what’s up-and-coming in the market helps to understand the trends and what’s necessary for tomorrow.
Navigated competition
I’m naturally a curious person so I’ve chosen to always stay close to the market as it moves quickly, and you always need to be prepared with what’s around the corner. Working closely with the executive team to keep them updated on the talent market and how’s it’s effecting your ability to hire top talent is critical. You must remain agile as the tech market is very competitive. One of the most important pieces in shaping a culture in my opinion is honesty and really hearing what’s important to others. A company like Protegrity offers a more entrepreneurial experience than a large company. Being sure this is the right package for the person you are bringing in is critical.
Women’s Momentum Magazine spotlights women in business who create momentum, overcome challenges, and grow their businesses with purpose. Through authentic storytelling, we share their achievements, boost visibility and credibility, and inspire executives, emerging leaders, and entrepreneurs—turning real-world journeys into lessons that guide, motivate, and shape the future of global business.
